Bana, Eric (1968– )

Australian actor and comedian. After starring in his own comedy show in the late 1990s in Australia, he achieved international stardom playing the lead role in Ang Lee's Hulk, the film adaptation of Marvel Comics's ‘The Incredible Hulk’. He went on to star opposite Brad Pitt in the historical epic Troy (2004).

He starred in the Australian television comedy series Full Frontal (1993–96) and went on to write, produce, and star in his own comedy series, Eric (1996–97). Early film roles were often as aggressive, violent characters. His film debut was in the Australian comedy The Castle (1997). He starred as a mass murderer in the cult Australian black comedy Chopper (2000) before achieving a wider audience as a soldier in Ridley Scott's Black Hawk Down (2001). Two years later he played a range of voice parts in the animated film Finding Nemo (2003). He also starred in the Australian TV drama series Something in the Air (2000–01) and the Australian comedy film The Nugget (2002).

He was born in Melbourne, Australia, the son of a Croatian father and German mother. He began doing stand-up comedy while working as a bartender in a Melbourne hotel in 1991.